Bench dog or clamp.



W. J. VILLARD.

BENCH DOG 0R CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30. 1915.

1,170,125. Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

K I .iiHllllll Witnesses ventor;

Attorneys.

rrnn sra'rns PATENT @EFEQE, A

' WALTER J. VILLARD, or BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

BENCHTDOG o R'oLAMr.

me ias;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER J. V LnARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bloomington, in the county of McLean and object, and meanswhereby said meansmay then be forced with considerablepressure againstthe board or object for securely or firmly clamping the same in placewhile being operated upon.

It is also within the scope of the present invention to provide a benchdog having the features above noted, the dog being of uniqueconstruction and operation to the said end, and in order that the devicewill be comparatively simple, compact and inexpensive in construction,as well. as being convenient, serviceable, practicaland eflicient inuse.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the.

invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what isclaimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure1 is a plan view of the improved device, portions being broken away.Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged sectional views taken on the lines 22 and 33,respectively, of Fig. 1.

In carrying out the invention, the body of the device comprises a base 1in the form of a plate or casting, and having a longitudinal upperchannel '2, and a laterally projecting extension 3 adjacent one end. Theextension 3 is provided with a circular depression or recess 4, thechannel 2 being arranged tangentially relative to the recess 4 and therebeing an opening 4 between the channel and Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

Application filed March 30, 1915. Serial No. 18,158.

recess. A top plate or cover 5 is secured upon the base 1 by means ofscrews or other securing means 6, for closing the channel 2 and recess4, and holding the parts therein. The base 1 is also provided with anupstanding lug 7 approximately centrally of the recess 4, and with anarcuate slot 8 at one side of the recess 4. The base 1 is also providedwith depending tenons 9, of which there may be any number, which areadapted to lit into mortises or bores drilled in the top of the bench orother support to which the dog is to be applied, and whereby the base 1iskheld in place upon the bench, table, or the A bar 10 is slidablesnugly within the channel 2 and projects beyond the ends of the base,one end of the bar 10 having a toothed jaw or head 11 to engage theboard or other object which is to be clamped.

That edge of the bar 10 adjacent the recess 4' is provided with rackteeth 12, while the opposite edge of the bar 10 is provided with ratchetteeth 13.

7 As a means for forcibly sliding or moving the bar 10, an eccentric 14is journaled upon the lug 7 within the recess 4, and is provided at thatpoint of its periphery farthest from the lug or pivot 7, with teeth 14providing a gear segment arranged'to engage the teeth 12 when theeccentric 14 is swung properly, and to disengage the teeth 12 when theeccentric is swung in the opposite direction to the proper extent. Theeccentric l4'is provided with a radially projecting shank or extension15 projecting through and working within the slot 8, and the outer orfree end portion 16 of the shank 15 is offset upwardly and is taperedfor receiving thereon a removable slip handle 17. WVhen the handle 17 isswung to bring the shank 15 to that end of the slot 8 remote from thechannel 2, the teeth 14 will be disengaged from the teeth 12, and thebar 10 will then be free to be slid within the channel 2, and when thehandle 17 is swung toward the bar 10, the teeth 14 will be engaged tothe teeth 12 so as to forcibly move the bar 10 to the left, as seen inFig. 1.

Means are employed for holding the bar 10 against reverse or retrogrademovement unless desired, and to this end the base 1 is provided at thatside of the channel 2 opposite the recess 4, with a pair of bores 18having inner counterbores or pockets 19, and pawls 20 are mounted forreciprocation in the counterbo res 19, and have stems 21 slidable withinand projecting from the bores 18. The stems 21 are provided at theirouter or free ends with knobs 22, and coiled wire expansion springs 23are disposed between the pawls and shoulders formed by the counterbores19, to yieldably press the pawls 2O inwardly against the ratchet teeth13 of the bar 10. The pawls 20 are so arranged as to alternately snapover the ratchet teeth 13, whereby when one pawl 20 contacts with theshoulder of one tooth, the other pawl will be midway between theshoulders of two teeth, and this provides a nicety of adjustment,without the necessity of the ratchet teeth 13 being too small or fine.

In use, supposing the base 1 to be applied to the bench or table to holdits position thereon, when the handle 17 is swung away from the bar 10to the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 1, the eccentric teeth14% V will be disengaged from the rack teeth 12 of the bar 10, and thebar 10 may then be readily slid to the left, as seen in the said figure,to bring the jaw or head 11 against the board or other object which isto be clamped upon the bench or table. This provides for a quickadjustment to bring the jaw or head 11 quickly against the board orobject, and then by swinging the handle 17 toward the bar 10 to the fullline position as seen in Fig. 1, the teeth 141 will be engaged to theteeth 12 of the bar 10, and when the handle 17 is forcibly swung by thehand, the bar 10 will be forced onward with considerable pressure,whereby the board or other object will be firmly clamped in position.The pawls 2O prevent the retrograde or return movement of the bar,unless the stems 21 are drawn outward to release the adjacent pawls fromthe ratchet teeth 13, when it is desired to slide the bar 10 back torelease the board or object. When ing noted that when the cover or topplate 5 is removed, the eccentric 14 and bar 10 may be readily placedwithin the recess 4 and channel 2, respectively, and when the cover 5 isattached tothe base, the eccentric and bar will be held in operativeposition thereby. I

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is In adevice of the character described, a base having a channel, a recess atone side of the channel, an opening between the recess and channel, anupstanding lug within said recess, aslot at one side of the recess and apocket at that side of the channel opposite the recess, a bar slidablein said channel, that edge of the bar adjacent the recess having rackteeth, the opposite edge of the bar having ratchet teeth, a springpressed pawl disposed in said pocket and 00- operating with the ratchetteeth to prevent the retrograde movement of the bar, an eccentricjournaled upon the said lug within the recess and having teeth at thatportion farthest away from said lug to swing into and out of engagementwith said rack teeth, the eccentric having a shank projecting throughsaid slot, and a cover secured upon the base over said channel andrecess to hold the bar and eccentric therein.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aifixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WALTER J. VILLARD.

Witnesses:

JEssE E. HOFFMAN, WILSON MAJOR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five'cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

